What are CPA Parliamentary Academy residency courses?

The CPA Parliamentary Academy was established in 2021 and comprises online courses, residency courses and affiliated partner courses for Parliamentarians and parliamentary staff from across the Commonwealth.

Each year, the CPA delivers two in-person residency courses for Members of Commonwealth Parliaments. A further residency course for Clerks and Parliamentary staff is also available. The courses run for five days and are hosted in a Commonwealth jurisdiction.

The residency courses are intended to complement our online courses, providing face-to-face interactive learning and knowledge-sharing at a more advanced level. They are designed to enable Members to be better performing legislators, representatives and scrutineers and to enable Clerks and Parliamentary staff to gain vital skills for parliamentary development and management.

Based on a mentoring and coaching approach, participants will identify practical solutions to the challenges they face and hone their skills at a higher level through simulations, role-play, one-to-one discussions, group activities and exercises.

Who can attend?

CPA Parliamentary Academy Residency Courses are for either Members of Parliament or Clerks/Parliamentary staff in active CPA Branches only. To be eligible to attend, Members or Parliamentary staff must have completed at least the Induction for New Parliamentarians online course, with priority places given to those who have completed the CPA Parliamentary Professional Development Certificate.

Ahead of a course, CPA Branches will be invited to nominate Members or Parliamentary staff from their Branch. Members or Parliamentary staff must formally apply to attend through their respective CPA Branch Secretary - the CPA HQ Secretariat cannot accept direct applications.